1.31.16
Little is know about Jesus as a child. His formative years are not laid out in details as we would like for a modern biography. We do know this: "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52) This means he transversed the toddler, prepubescent, and teen years without sin - all the while growing in maturity and acceptance into the adult world. But before he begins his adult ministry Jesus undergoes some final preparations.
1. Preparation by baptism.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. (Matthew 3:13-15)
In Leviticus 8 God commands that Aaron and his sons are washed ceremonially (baptized) to symbolize their righteousness as priests. It may be this very passage that Jesus is referencing when he says "It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
2. Preparation by Holy Spirit.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. (Matthew 3:16)
Prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is seen as an external force acting upon the physical world. Genesis 1 tells us that the Spirit moved upon the face of the earth and helped to give it shape. Numbers 11 tells the story of how the Spirit moved upon Moses and the seventy elders as they were commissioned to lead the people of Israel. And Judges 14 tells of the Spirit empowering Samson in his feats of strength. It is after the Day of Pentecost that we are empowered permanently with the Holy Spirit in us, not just acting upon us. Here though we have a picture of the Holy Spirit preparing Jesus in his earthly form.
3. Preparation by Divine Affirmation
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
This affirmation by his father serves to encourage his son and to confirm to us that Jesus is the Son of God and that he is ready to minister. We see the picture of Father, Son, and Spirit united to be effective in his ministry. The affirmation of the one who sent him is key because Jesus comes not on his own word, but with the confirming word of God.
4. Preparation by Testing.
At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (Mark 1:12-13)
I love football. The draft is an exciting time every year as new prospects are brought in and tested to see if they will make it as a professional player. Over the years there have been many who "look perfect on paper" but who fail to perform in the actual heat of the moment during a game. Before Jesus goes into full time ministry, after being hand picked by God to perform the task at hand, he is tested. Like Luke Skywalker facing Vader in the swamp on Dagobah, Jesus faces the worst the universe has to throw at him: Satan. In Matthew 4 and Luke 4 we read more details about the testing of Jesus by Satan. He endures them all with the same weapon available to you and I - The Word of God. Jesus uses scripture to defeat Satan, and so can we.
Three things we learn from the preparation of Jesus.
1. Jesus grew into his role. (Luke 2:52)
2. Look to others to affirm your calling and purpose. (Matthew 3:17)
3. Do not be surprised by testing or opposition (Matthew 4 and Luke 4)
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